China hails Philippines' pullout in South China Sea

[JAYRAM]

18 June 2012 Last updated at 11:09 GMT

The Philippines and China have been locked in a stand-off over the shoal since April

China has welcomed the Philippines' decision to pull out from a disputed part of the South China Sea, saying it hopes that this will ease tensions.

The Philippines withdrew its two ships from the Scarborough Shoal area on Saturday, citing stormy weather.

The Chinese embassy in Manila also said on its website on Sunday that a vessel was sent to tow its fishing boats at the shoal due to weather conditions.

The two countries have been locked in a stand-off there since April.

The Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Island in China, has been a source of ongoing tension in the region.

It lies a little more than 100 miles (160km) from the Philippines and 500 miles from China.

"The Chinese side has been urging the Philippine side to take measures to de-escalate the situation," Chinese embassy spokesman, Zhang Hua, was quoted by local media as saying.

"We have noticed the withdrawal of government vessels by the Philippine side, and hope this action will help ease the tension."

A statement on the website of the Chinese embassy in the Philippines on Sunday said: "Due to inclement weather and strong tide in the Huangyan Island waters, in order to help Chinese fishermen and fishing boats pull out safely for shelter, Nanhaijiu-115 vessel has set out to the area to provide necessary assistance."

However, it was not clear whether China would remove all its fishing vessels from the area.

The Philippines' foreign ministry had said that while President Benigno Aquino ordered the country's two vessels to leave the shoal due to a tropical storm, it did not mean they were giving up the claim.

The current row began when the Philippines said its naval ship had found eight Chinese fishing vessels at the shoal but was prevented by Chinese surveillance ships from arresting the fishermen.

China is engaged in multiple disputes with its neighbours over the South China Sea, and in recent years has grown more assertive on the issue.

BBC News - China hails Philippines' pullout in South China Sea

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

China denies PHL claim it will withdraw ships from Panatag Shoal

Chinese officials on Monday contested the claim of Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario that China made a commitment to withdraw its vessels from the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

In an article posted Monday night on the Chinese government's web portal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei questioned where Del Rosario obtained that statement.

"In response to del Rosario's remarks, Hong questioned where and when the Philippine side received such a commitment from China," the article said.

Hong was quoted in the Chinese government portal report as urging the Philippines to "constrain its words and deeds and do more things that are conducive to the development of bilateral ties."

"We have noted that two Philippine official ships left Huangyan Island on Saturday morning. We expect a further moderation of the situation and hope that bilateral cooperative relations will be restored and safeguarded," Hong said.

Del Rosario was quoted in news reports last week as saying Manila is waiting for Beijing to meet its commitment to remove its vessels from the area.

However, China reiterated it will continue to maintain jurisdiction and vigilance over the areas around the area.

On Monday, China said its Maritime Search and Rescue Center dispatched an ocean-going rescue ship to the waters around the area.

It said the rescue ship, "NAN HAI JIU 115," will provide assistance to Chinese fishing vessels that are returning from Huangyan due to rough sea conditions.

Commitment from China?

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez had insisted that there was indeed a commitment from both sides to pull out their ships from the lagoon area.

However, Hernandez explained that the matter of ships outside the lagoon is a matter for further discussion.

Hernandez said both sides decided to pull out their ships from the lagoon of the shoal last June 5.

At the time, the Philippines had a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel while China had two government vessels.

Hernandez said Hong may have "misunderstood" Del Rosario's claim of a commitment from China.

"Baka misunderstood nila kung anong mga vessels ang tinutukoy (ni) Secretary. Tinutukoy niya ang barko na nandoon sa loob ng lagoon. Ang barko sa labas ng lagoon subject to further discussion yan," Hernandez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Last Sunday, Hernandez said China pulled out its fishing vessels that were inside the lagoon.

He also added that there were no Chinese government vessels left in the lagoon.

"Kasama yan sa pinagkasunduan ng dalawang panig na dapat walang vessels sa loob ng lagoon. Ang pullout ng Chinese fishing vessels kasama sa kasunduan ng dalawang panig," he said.

He said the Philippines prefers all vessels in the area be pulled out but both sides should settle the issue "through diplomatic negotiations and discussions."

Locked in a standoff

The Philippines and China remain locked in a standoff at Panatag Shoal, which China refers to as Huangyan Island.

The standoff began in April when Philippine forces spotted Chinese fishermen gathering marine species from the area but were blocked by Chinese vessels when trying to make arrests.

Last weekend, President Benigno Aquino III ordered the withdrawal of Philippine government ships from the area but said this was due to bad weather conditions.

Malacañang said the Philippine government would reevaluate the situation once the weather clears.

China denies PHL claim it will withdraw ships from Panatag Shoal | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere

 

[Zero_Wing]

We have to pull back because of the weather the chinese have not won anything

 

[s002wjh]

We have to pull back because of the weather the chinese have not won anything

lol you just have to win the "face" war

 

[Zero_Wing]

lol you just have to win the "face" war

what face?

 

[G90]

Its very wise for flips to give up now otherwise they will have to give up their all north sea together with their entire non-existenting military laterly.

 

[Zero_Wing]

Its very wise for flips to give up now otherwise they will have to give up their all north sea together with their entire non-existenting military laterly.

Huh why would we? you should take your own advice and apply it because only you people are doing things like this

 

[Ray]

Its very wise for flips to give up now otherwise they will have to give up their all north sea together with their entire non-existenting military laterly.

what with the US Navy spooking China?

 

[s002wjh]

what face?

re send the ship back after the weather clear out will just make things worst. china will send ships back there too. just wait and see hows diplomacy going before decide antigonzing china

 

[Zero_Wing]

re send the ship back after the weather clear out will just make things worst. china will send ships back there too. just wait and see hows diplomacy going before decide antigonzing china

we did the cost guard is back on the area and we been send fishermen back to but some are afraid to come back saying the -----s are pointing guns and now ramming boat we are still investigating the matter but everybody knows its favorite chinese tactic to ram boats

 

[KS]

You have to give it to the Chinese how the muscle their way with the neighbourhood minnows.

 

[s002wjh]

hopefully situation will solve peceafully in the future. but china been the major power in the region has much more leverage than veitnam/philippine. on top of that not all ASEAN is gonna go up against china.

 

[s002wjh]

we did the cost guard is back on the area and we been send fishermen back to but some are afraid to come back saying the -----s are pointing guns and now ramming boat we are still investigating the matter but everybody knows its favorite chinese tactic to ram boats

maybe some kind deal can be work out while both party working on diplomacy, so both can fishing the region without hassel. but simply put china want the oil, so does every other claim party, and no one really want to back down. but china is 2nd economic power so this give them alot advantage.

 

[Ray]

Let the typhoon season pass.

Then China will be at business as usual!

 

[techsupport]

hopefully situation will solve peceafully in the future. but china been the major power in the region has much more leverage than veitnam/philippine. on top of that not all ASEAN is gonna go up against china.

just tell your government to shoot. PH Navy wont last a day. But your country wont last a week.

Im pretty sure China hates it when 2 US Nuclear Attack Submarines made port visits to their old Naval base just a few hours away from Scarborough shoal.

 

[sukhish]

don't overestimate U.S, they won't be fighting china anytime soon. U.S is primarily reponsible for china of what it is.

 

[G90]

Their US boss failed them so many times before and they still have not learn, I guess IQ really matters.

 

[techsupport]

Failed us in what? I guess IQ doesnt matter if people believe everything what their communist government tells them.

 

[redragon]

Failed us in what? I guess IQ doesnt matter if people believe everything what their communist government tells them.

I notice you didn't deny that US is your boss.

 

[s002wjh]

just tell your government to shoot. PH Navy wont last a day. But your country wont last a week.

Im pretty sure China hates it when 2 US Nuclear Attack Submarines made port visits to their old Naval base just a few hours away from Scarborough shoal.

you do know i'm an american. i don't really care about SCS, so does most american. short of a chinese full invasion to PH mainland, you are foolish to think US will drag into a war against china. we have our own interest in the region, but does not mean we gonna start a war with china.